Propellant charge arrangement for barrel-weapons or ballistic drives

Abstract

A propellant charge arrangement for barrel-weapons or ballistic drives comprises a conventional core charge having an ignition system and a consolidated propellant surrounding the core charge and having its own high electrical energy ignition system which can be controlled in a time-delayed manner after triggering the core charge ignition system. The structure and arrangement of the consolidated propellant and its ignition system are chosen such that, during combustion of the core charge, the consolidated propellant disintegrates into fragments of essentially uniform geometry in response to triggering of its associated ignition system, wherein the fragments are accelerated into the gas volume generated during combustion of the core charge.

We claim:  
     
       1. A propellant charge arrangement for barrel-weapons or ballistic drives, the propellant charge arrangement comprising: 
       a conventional core charge;  
       a core charge ignition system communicating with said core charge to combust said core charge for production of a core charge gas volume;  
       a consolidated propellant disposed about said core charge;  
       a consolidated propellant electrical energy ignition system; and  
       means for time-delayed triggering of said consolidated propellant ignition system following triggering of said core charge ignition system, wherein said consolidated propellant and said consolidated propellant ignition system are structured and disposed to disintegrate said consolidated propellant into fragments of substantially uniform geometry in response to triggering of said consolidated propellant ignition system, said fragments being accelerated into said core charge gas volume.  
     
     
       2. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said consolidated propellant has an essentially uniformly structured design. 
     
     
       3. The propellant arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said consolidated propellant comprises inhomogeneities having a substantially uniform geometrical arrangement. 
     
     
       4. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said inhomogeneities comprise bordering interruptions between adjacent portions of said consolidated propellant. 
     
     
       5. The propellant charge of  claim 4 , wherein said inhomogeneities are disposed in a substantially linear pattern. 
     
     
       6. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said consolidated propellant is disposed in a first and a second layer, with first linear inhomogeneities in said first layer extending at angles with respect to second linear inhomogeneities in said second layer. 
     
     
       7. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein said angles are approximately equal to 90 degrees. 
     
     
       8. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said consolidated propellant ignition system comprises electrical conductors which cooperate with said consolidated propellant in substantially regular disposition. 
     
     
       9. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein said electrical conductors are disposed in a ladder-shaped manner. 
     
     
       10. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein said electrical conductors are embedded in said consolidated propellant. 
     
     
       11. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein said electrical conductors are disposed on a surface of said consolidated propellant facing away from said core charge. 
     
     
       12. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 8 , further comprising a pressure-generating layer having one of a pyrotechnical material and fine-grained propellant charge powder, said pressure generating layer disposed to at least partially surround said electrical conductors. 
     
     
       13. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 8 , further comprising a gas-generating layer having one of a pyrotechnical material and a fine-grained propellant charge powder, said gas-generating layer surrounding said consolidated propellant at a surface thereof facing away from said core charge. 
     
     
       14. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein said electrical conductors are disposed in said gas-generating layer. 
     
     
       15. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein said first layer has a first transparency which differs from a second transparency of said second layer. 
     
     
       16. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein said consolidated propellant ignition system is disposed proximate to said first layer and wherein said first transparency is greater than said second transparency. 
     
     
       17. The propellant charge arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a wall surrounding the propellant charge arrangement and an insulating layer disposed between said consolidated propellant and said wall.